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Day 108

John 6 (an excursus) "AN IMPORTANT EXCURSUS"

Day 108 – Luke 9

Text: John 6 (an excursus)

AN IMPORTANT EXCURSUS

Of all the Gospel accounts, John offered the most profound theological commentary on this miracle of the Feeding of the Five Thousand. It would be worthwhile to take time to read John’s commentary on this miracle. Let us depart from Luke’s Gospel for today, and spend a little bit of time, outlining what John recorded in his Gospel narrative. Whereas the other Gospel writers only recorded this wondrous miracle, John gave attention to the consequences of the Feeding of the Five Thousand.

THE SELFISH AND HIDDEN AGENDA OF THE MULTITUDES REVEALED

John carefully noted why the Multitudes followed Jesus.

1. “Then a great multitude followed Him, BECAUSE they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased.”
John 6:2

2. “Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, ‘This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.’ ” John 6:14

3. Their interpretation and application of this understanding was at best selfish . John went on to write, “Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king…” John 6:15

In three simple statements, John revealed the selfish agenda of the multitudes. Their intentions were initially reined in. They just kept observing Jesus and noted His power. The power of the Lord Jesus was not limited to healing one individual, and then another. His power was so vast that He could feed THOUSANDS without any effort!

Their minds worked very quickly. If only Jesus could be persuaded to utilize His power for political ends, He could be a great King! He would have no trouble feeding His subjects. He has just demonstrated the extent of His power in feeding the Five Thousand!

AN IMPORTANT ENCOUNTER

The Lord Jesus had to discourage the multitudes from having designs on Him. They must be persuaded to abandon their futile efforts! They must not pride themselves as “king-makers”! He would never concede to their efforts to coerce Him to be “King”.

John’s very long chapter (John 6) on the Discourse of The Living Bread must be studied very carefully. The following may be highlighted:-

1. Jesus exposed the shallow ambitions of the multitudes. He said to them very bluntly, these words,

“Most assuredly, I say to you,
You seek Me, NOT because you saw the signs,
But BECAUSE you ate of the loaves and were filled.”
John 6:26

2. The Lord Jesus then went on to say,

“Do not labour for the food which perishes,
But for the food which endures to everlasting life,
Which the Son of Man will give you,
Because God has set His seal on Him.”
John 6:27

3. To the astonished crowd, whose hearts were exposed in plain view, Jesus said,

“This is the work of God,
That you BELIEVE in Him whom He sent.”
John 6:29

4. Jesus went on to speak of Himself as the Bread of Life.

“The Bread of God is He who comes down from Heaven
and gives life to the world.”
John 6:33

5. When the crowd said, “Lord, give us this bread always” (John 6:34), the Lord Jesus expounded further what He meant,

“I am the Bread of Life.
He who comes to Me shall never hunger,
And he who believes in Me shall never thirst.
BUT I said to you
That you have seen Me and YET do not believe.”
John 6:35,36

MANY “DISCIPLES” ABANDONED JESUS

Jesus resolutely resisted any attempt to thwart the fulfilling of God’s will for Him. He had come to provide spiritual food and drink! The miracles that He had performed, the latest being the most stupendous yet – the Feeding of The Five Thousand, must not be misunderstood and misinterpreted. The major point of all His miracles was the Identification of who He was! He was the Messiah of God! He did not come to rally people to fight against the Romans.

The inevitable happened! John records a great “falling out” between Jesus and the multitudes, some of whom must have considered themselves as “disciples” (John 6:60).

“Therefore many of His “disciples” when they had heard this, said,
‘This is a hard saying; who can understand it’ “
John 6:60

“From that time, many of His “disciples” went back
and walked with Him no more”
John 6:66

The Miracle of the Feeding of the Five Thousand ended on a tragic note for some. They decided that they would not be part of the multitudes that followed Jesus any more! They knew that they could never “influence” or manipulate Jesus. They might as well abandon the farce of following Him around as if they were true disciples. What a turn around of events!